6-month-old with newest confirmed measles case in King County taken to Seattle Children’s

Another person in King County has tested positive for the measles, Seattle and King County health officials said.

Officials said the person is a 6-month-old child who was taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital while she was contagious.

This case was said to be a household contact, in which the child came in contact with a person who was diagnosed with the measles earlier this month but was not exposed to measles in the community, officials said.

Anyone who visited the emergency room at Seattle Children’s Hospital on May 24 between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. could have been exposed to the measles. The child was in that public location, officials said.

Kathryn Mueller with Seattle Children’s told KIRO 7 that emergency room staff immediately implemented appropriate infection control procedures when the child arrived, which included isolating the affected patient, along with other patients and families.

All patients and families in the emergency room were made aware and screened to determine if treatment for measles exposure was appropriate, Mueller said. People who could benefit from the treatment were offered it.

The hospital is notifying patients and families about potential exposure.

The measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone infected with measles leaves an area, officials said.

This is the fifth case identified in King County this month, which brings the total to eight recent measles cases in Washington state.

If there are any additional locations that are identified, they will be added to a list of all measles cases and locations of exposure in King County at kingcounty.gov/measles/cases.

Health officials are investigating the case.